Pain Management

Eman H EL-Adawy has completed her MD from Mansoura University. She is a Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology Department in Specialized Medical Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura City, Egypt. She published more than 10 papers in reputed journals.

Background: In Egypt, it seems that adolescent girls are candidate for vitamin D deficiency (VDD), mostly due to inadequate sun exposure as a result of the culture and social dress codes. Curently there is growing evidence that VDD and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are associated. Aim: Investigate the frequency of VDD in adolescent females with IDA and demonstrate whether VD (vitamin D) level was correlated with serum iron indices. Methods: Forty adolescent with IDA and 30 healthy control were compared to determine the degree of VD level; where VDD (≤20 ng/mL), VD insufficiency (20-30 ng/Ml) and VD sufficiency (>30 ng/Ml). BMI, CBC, TIBC, serum ferritin, ionized calcium and 25(OH)D were measured. Results: Subnormal VD was more frequent in the IDA group (75%) than control (40%); where 19 adolescent female patients (47.5%) were VD deficient, 11 (27.5%) were insufficient and 10 (25%) were sufficient; in control group VDD was present in 4 (20%), VDI in 4 (20%) and VDS in 12 (60%) respectively. The mean level of VD was significantly lower in winter than summer (16.87 vs. 31.57 mg/dL, P <0.001). Analysis of the factors potentially associated with D levels was performed, including BMI, season and serum iron profile, and we found no significant independent predictors of VD levels. Conclusions: VDD has a high frequency in Egyptian adolescent females with IDA, however it is not significantly correlated with iron indicies. Measurement of VD level in such patients, a procedure that is not currently a part of routine investigation, could be necessary.